WASHINGTON (AP) — Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal’s involvement in the first lady’s “Let’s Move” campaign has at least one nutrition group upset.
Michelle Obama highlighted healthy habits at an elementary school in Washington on Friday, and she was joined by O’Neal and other celebrity athletes to promote physical activity.
However, nutrition watchdogs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest aren’t happy with O’Neal’s new sugary soft drink Soda Shaq, which has 270 calories and 72 grams of sugar.
“Promoting physical activity for one day doesn’t undo all the harm he’s doing by selling and promoting sugary drinks, which are the biggest contributor to obesity,” Margo Wootan, with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said.
Obama said her anti-childhood obesity campaign is "changing the conversation" in America.
The first lady said the nearly 4-year-old effort is creating a "cultural shift" in how we live and eat, and is beginning to have a positive impact on children's health.
One example she said she couldn't imagine when the "Let's Move" program launched in 2010: TV ads for egg-white breakfast sandwiches.
But Mrs. Obama said that while progress has been made there's a long way to go before the childhood obesity problem is solved.